Mack - Even More Draft

 

5-28-21 - NCAA - Top College Players By Position -

 

CATCHER

 

The pick: Henry Davis, Louisville  — Davis is not simply one of the best catchers in college baseball, he's one of the top prospects for this July's MLB draft at any position. We knew he could hit since he was a freshman and followed that by hitting .372 with three home runs in just 14 games last year when play stopped. This year has been more of the same: he's hitting .367 and his two home runs against Clemson in the first round of the ACC tournament gave him 14 on the year. Behind the plate, he's sensational with the buzz being around his plus-plus arm. He's thrown out 13 of 15 base stealers this year and while people have questioned his receiving skills in the past, he's vastly improved there as well. After allowing 13 passed balls in his first two seasons, he's allowed a mere two in 49 games, so far.

 

5-28-21 - NCAA - Top College Players By Position -

 

FIRST BASE

 

The pick: Tyler Hardman, Oklahoma —

 

 This was no easy pick. We love the pure muscle and power of Notre Dame's Niko Kavadas — and he's shown it's for real leading the Cape Cod Baseball League in dingers back in 2019 — but we think Hardman has been the better all-around first baseman, defense included.

 

Hardman is no slouch with the bat. In his 54 games thus far, he's had 28 multi-hit games and is now slashing .395/.481/.664 with 19 doubles and 12 home runs. He's also made many improvements at first base, even in fine tuning his stance to hold runners on — again, something that stats simply don't reflect. And while he does strikeout a bit, at roughly a 23 percent rate, he isn't afraid to draw a walk, walking roughly 13 percent of the time. Good plate judgment with a sound approach and improving defense give Hardman the spot... at least, for now. 

 

 

5-28-21 - NCAA - Top College Players By Position -

 

OUTFIELD

 

Colton Cowser: On the year, Cowser is hitting .370 with a 1.137 OPS to go with 15 home runs and 16 stolen bases. How that power plays at the next level is a question mark since he is much more of a line-drive hitter to all fields, but there's no questioning his power is there. Paired with the ability to be a 20/20 player and sound defensive instincts, Cowser gets the first nod.

  

 

5-28-21 - NCAA - Top College Players By Position -

 

Jud Fabian: Fabian made our list of top sluggers earlier this year, and that's primarily what earns him his spot here. Those 20 home runs are tied for the third-most in college baseball. There is some swing and miss, but despite the low average, that bat speed and sheer strength are enough to show that Fabian's power is for real. 

 

 

5-28-21 - NCAA - Top College Players By Position -

 

STARTING PITCHERS:

 

RHP: Kumar Rocker, Vanderbilt — Most people will have Rocker's teammate Jack Leiter here, and deservedly so. When it comes to stats, the duo is pretty much inseparable:

 

Jack Leiter: 8-2, 2.12 ERA, 127 strikeouts in 76.1 innings, .128 batting average against (BAA)

 

Kumar Rocker: 11-2, 2.45 ERA, 129 strikeouts in 88 innings, .16 BAA

 

So, why Rocker over Leiter? If history repeats itself, which it tends to do, we are getting to the part of the year where Rocker is at his best. He has an ideal pitcher's frame, and while he's listed at 6'4 and 255 pounds, that may be an understatement as he looks larger than life in person. A dominating force on the mound, Rocker does have four pitches — although like Leiter, his change is seldom used — and simply overpowers with near-triple digit heat.

 

 

5-28-21 - NCAA - Top College Players By Position -

 

LHP: Matt Mikulski, Fordham — The numbers were just too good to ignore with Mikulski. On the season, the southpaw went 9-0 with a 1.45 ERA behind a 0.82 WHIP and 124 strikeouts in 68.1 innings pitched. Here's what's most important to note about those numbers: he's improved in every facet of the game. After having less-than-ideal walk rates in his first three seasons, Mikulski walked just 27 in 2021 and missed a lot more bats while holding opponents to a .127 average — the next closest in his career was a .232 BAA. Reports are his velocity is up to a consistent high-90s heater as well. That's a lot to like right there. 

 

 

5-28-21 - Perfect Game Four Corners @PG_FourCorners)

 

UCLA SS Matt McLain goes the other way w/ a laser high off the RCF wall for a RBI 2B. Continues to find the barrel. Has the ability to drive the ball gap to gap. Been solid at SS all series w/ confident hands and actions

 

 

5-27-21 - Keanan Lamb @keananlamb

 

Thru 2 IP ECU Baseball RHP Gavin Williams has pitched around some control issues, trying to get a feel for the SL 83-85 that has led to some wildness. The FB is live, especially up, 94-96 in the 1st, 97-99 in the 2nd

 

  

5-27-21 - BA -

 

More than 150 scouting jobs were lost due to the pandemic and an industry-wide emphasis on data, analytics and cost-efficiency

 

This offseason was the most brutal in recent memory for the scouting industry.

 

At the beginning of the 2019 season, teams employed 1,909 scouts across their amateur, professional and international departments. That includes all manner of scouts, from special assistants to directors to crosscheckers to pro scouts to area scouts. In 2021, that number is down to 1,756. All scout head counts referenced in this story were sourced from team media guides and the annual Baseball America Directory.

 

Going Up

 

Pirates +17

Blue Jays +5

Astros +4

Twins +3

Rangers +3

Red Sox +0

Mets +0

 

Going Down

 

Mariners –23

Angels –23

Cubs –20

Giants –13

Dodgers –13

Rays –10

Brewers –10